The bulker Ruen, the hijacking of which marked the return of Somali piracy last December after several years, is now feared to be being exploited as a pirate ship itself.

That is according to information circulated on Thursday by Ambrey Analytics.

Following the lack of a ransom deal with owner Navibulgar, the Somali group controlling the 41,600-dwt Ruen (built 2016) is suspected to be using it “as a mother ship to conduct further attacks on merchant vessels”, Ambrey said in a flash note.